Moving Forward: Adopting Intersectional Climate Justice

         The environmental justice movement was started by a Black woman, Hazel Johnson, in defense of her [largely Black] community. However, somehow, the most public and vocal aspects of the movement have been co opted by white environmentalists. The message of the environmentalism has, in fact, largely departed from addressing the injustices suffered by specific socioeconomic groups as a result of the climate crisis. Instead, they have begun to focus on preserving wildlife and “Saving the Earth” -- which are important issues, but completely fail to address the suffering that communities of color have suffered as at the hand of white capitalist colonizers. (Melosi) 

In an ideal world, our society would be able to address the fact that capitalism lies at the center of all oppression of marginalized groups. In this ideal world, we would be able to eradicate capitalism and its resulting oppressions -- we could move forward to adequately address the political and economic components of our society that have served, for so long, to oppress Black communities and Black women. (Beale 146) 

However, in the likely instance that our entire governmental and economic system are not collapsed soon from civil resistance, there is still tangible, effective change to be done with the potential to benefit Black women, Black communities, and the future generations of Black Americans. 

As has been made clear by countless women throughout history, including Destiny Watford from Maryland, the harnessed anger of Black women has huge potential for enacting change. As Audre Lorde wrote in Sister Outsider, “My response to racism is anger… we use whatever strengths we have fought for, including anger, to help define and fashion a world where all our sisters can grow.” (Lorde 131,133) 

By listening to Black female activists about their experience with racism, ecoracism, exploitation, and misogyny, those of us who have not experienced these things have a lot we can stand to learn. Particularly with an issue such as climate injustice, which has repercussions that sweep as wide as economics, politics, social issues, and public health, it is incredibly imperative that we hold the voices of those that experience it above the voices of others.

When addressing an issue as dynamic, and with so many potential effects, doing so through the lens of intersectionality has never been more imperative. (Crenshaw 1244) Hopefully, by listening to the voices of Black women, and getting involved in climate justice activism, its effects can begin to diminish. Not only will communities like those in Maryland, Michigan and elsewhere hopefully find any shred of justice left to be given, but groups centered around making natural spaces and healthy resources more widely available can expand their reach to benefit more people and more communities. While electoral politics hold some value in addressing social, political and economic injustice, it seems that our elected officials are always late to the mark. However, through mutual aid programs, community groups, and even individual activism, hopefully climate justice activists -- led by Black women -- can begin to create change in communities that stand to benefit generations to come.

Works Cited: 

Crenshaw, Kimberle. “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color.” Stanford Law Review, vol. 43, no. 6, 1991, pp. 1241–1299. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1229039. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.

Guy-Sheftall, B. (Ed.). (2011). Double Jeopardy: To be Black and Female. In 1116547454 843396822 B. Guy-Sheftall (Author), Words of Fire An Anthology of African-American Feminist Thought (pp. 146-155). New York, NY: New Press, The.

Lorde, A., & Browne, M. L. (2020). Sister outsider. New York: Penguin Books.

Melosi, Martin V. “Environmental Justice, Political Agenda Setting, and the Myths of History.” Journal of Policy History, vol. 12, no. 1, 2000, pp. 43–71., doi:10.1353/jph.2000.0008.